In just a brief moment, Yuto had shattered the head of the Susanoo and seized Uchiha Itachi.
The onlookers' faces all shifted in alarm!
But no one noticed the sharp gleam that flashed through Uchiha Itachi's eyes.
Uchiha Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan spun rapidly as he raised his hand toward Yuto's arm, the one gripping his throat, seemingly struggling.
The instant Uchiha Itachi's hand touched Yuto's arm, an adamantine sealing chain shot from Yuto's palm and pierced straight through Itachi's skull.
The next moment!
A ghost clone materialized directly beside Uchiha Yū, raising a hand wreathed in Magnet Release sealing chakra, and reached toward Uchiha Itachi.
"Minato!"
Senju Tobirama shouted toward Namikaze Minato.
Even without Senju Tobirama's warning, Namikaze Minato had already turned into a flash of golden light and vanished from where he stood.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of Uchiha Itachi.
"Rasengan!"
The instant Namikaze Minato appeared, he slammed the Rasengan in his hand into the ghost clone's arm.
A heavy thud exploded through the air.
Under the Rasengan's force, the Magnet Release sealing chakra coiled around the ghost clone's hands was blasted apart, and the entire body staggered several steps backward!
At the same time, an arm formed from Nine-Tails chakra thrust out from Namikaze Minato's chest and sent the ghost clone flying with a savage swipe.
"You again, Namikaze Minato."
Yuto's cold, indifferent voice drifted from the side.
A sharp crack of displaced air thundered overhead!
Namikaze Minato felt a suffocating presence in that instant, and by the time he reacted, Yuto's fist was already crashing toward his face.
Even before the fist landed, the sheer wind pressure from its swing made Namikaze Minato feel faint hairline cracks forming on his cheek.
Was this the true strength of Yuto, the First Mizukage?!
Every movement overflowed with violent, overwhelming power and energy!
Had he not relied on the Flying Thunder God Technique and the immense regenerative power of Edo Tensei, he would have been slain in just a few exchanges.
The gap in strength was staggering!
Namikaze Minato let out a low roar, and Nine-Tails chakra surged wildly in his Kurama Mode, forming a defense of nine chakra arms before him.
Namikaze Minato could have escaped using the Flying Thunder God Technique, but Uchiha Itachi behind him would not be so lucky!
Yuto's fist crashed down, and the nine chakra arms shielding Namikaze Minato tore apart like thin paper, providing almost no protection at all.
A straight punch laden with terrifying force appeared before Namikaze Minato's eyes in an instant!
"Water Release: Super Water Formation Wall!"
Namikaze Minato's eyes went wide as his figure suddenly vanished, replaced by Senju Tobirama.
The two had swapped places using the Flying Thunder God Technique!
Senju Tobirama materialized where Namikaze Minato had just stood.
At the same time, a massive torrent of chakra erupted from Senju Tobirama's body, and an enormous waterfall-like surge of water formed a high-speed rotating wall around him, creating a flawless defensive barrier.
BOOM!
The defensive water wall spinning around Senju Tobirama was blown apart the instant Yuto's fist made contact.
Though the combined defenses of Namikaze Minato and Senju Tobirama had absorbed most of the punch's force, the brutal power still blasted a gaping hole through Tobirama's chest!
"Finally got you!"
Senju Tobirama paid no mind to the hole in his chest.
He raised both hands, seized Yuto's incoming arm, and let out a mighty roar.
Flying Thunder God Technique!
The moment Senju Tobirama grabbed Yuto's arm, he activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and both of them vanished from the spot.
When they reappeared!
Senju Tobirama and Yuto now stood over two hundred meters away from their previous battlefield!
And standing right behind Yuto was Namikaze Minato, who had just teleported there.
Namikaze Minato's gaze locked onto Yuto as his hands blurred through hand seals, preparing to use the Reaper Death Seal once more!
"Do you still not understand, Senju Tobirama? The same jutsu won't work on me twice!"
Even without turning his head, Yuto could guess exactly what Namikaze Minato was doing.
A violent surge of chakra erupted from Yuto's body, shattering Senju Tobirama's grip on his arm.
At the same time, a ghost clone materialized at Senju Tobirama's side, and before he could react, the clone's hands had already touched him.
Swarms of violet sealing talismans spread rapidly from the ghost clone's hands, sealing Senju Tobirama in an instant, and torrents of sand erupted forth, engulfing him in a sand-binding prison.
While the ghost clone sealed Senju Tobirama, Yuto's figure streaked like a comet to Namikaze Minato's side.
"Too slow!"
Yuto's voice was ice itself as he raised his arm, carving a cold arc through the air and bringing it down in a flash.
Damn it!
Just one more seal!
Namikaze Minato's eyes burned with unwillingness as he watched both his arms severed and sent flying.
It wasn't that Namikaze Minato's hand seals were slow, but that Yuto's speed was simply too great!
Namikaze Minato turned into a streak of gold once more, rapidly retreating from the area!
Meanwhile, in another direction.
Uchiha Itachi had been restored by Edo Tensei and summoned Susanoo once more!
Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru slapped their hands to the ground in unison.
Summoning Jutsu!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Three plumes of white smoke billowed up from the battlefield as Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru summoned Katsuyu, Gamabunta, and Manda!
"Hey! Hey! Orochimaru, are you kidding me? You want me to face that monster?"
The moment Manda appeared, it sensed the horrifying aura radiating from Yuto's direction and could not help but hiss its complaint.
"Little Tsunade, you'd best not provoke that one..."
Katsuyu softly cautioned Tsunade, who stood atop its head.
"Lady Katsuyu, Konoha lies behind us. There is nowhere left to retreat."
Tsunade radiated unyielding resolve, her voice firm and earnest.
Hearing Tsunade's words, Lady Katsuyu fell silent, its body giving a slight ripple as it prepared for battle!
"Looks like you're ready to risk it all."
Gamabunta seemed to sense the emotion radiating from Jiraiya.
"Sorry, Bunta. Lord Fukasaku and Lady Shima have already..."
"If anything seems wrong, get out of here at once."
Jiraiya's voice carried guilt, his tone low and heavy as he spoke to Gamabunta.
"The two elders, huh..."
Gamabunta fell silent for a moment before his voice filled with righteous loyalty.
"Hey, Jiraiya! I'm Bunta! You think I'd flee from a fight?!"
A streak of golden light cut through the air, and in an instant appeared beside Jiraiya.
"Long time no see, Bunta!"
Namikaze Minato's bright, warm voice rang out from atop Gamabunta's head.
Even in such dire straits, Namikaze Minato still radiated sunshine.
"Minato?"
Gamabunta clearly froze for a moment, his voice filled with surprise.
"Sensei Jiraiya, we still have a chance."
Namikaze Minato looked at Jiraiya and spoke softly, his gaze drifting toward Uchiha Itachi.
To Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru, victory in this situation seemed all but impossible.
Yet they still fought on, even though their efforts were hopelessly feeble!
And Namikaze Minato's words made all three of them pause.
"He's right!"
"Our Uchiha clan possesses another forbidden jutsu said to alter fate itself—Izanami!"
"Lord Three Sannin, I ask for your aid!"
Uchiha Itachi's calm, resolute voice drifted out from within Susanoo, reaching the ears of Tsunade and the others, sending a jolt through their spirits.
Though Jiraiya and the others did not know what "Izanami" was, they could clearly hear the confidence in Uchiha Itachi's voice.
"Then leave it to us!"
Jiraiya rallied, clenching his fists tight, his voice brimming with renewed fervor.
Three giant summoned beasts plus Susanoo—four massive forms like four small mountains loomed across the battlefield, radiating terrifying auras as they fixed their gaze on Yuto in the distance.
"Yasaka Magatama!"
Uchiha Itachi controlled his Complete Body Susanoo, gathering three massive linked magatama rings in its hand, radiating an aura of pure destruction, and hurled them like shuriken.
The crimson Yasaka Magatama carved a scarlet streak across the sky, descending in an instant toward Yuto!
"Still fighting in vain?"
"It seems I must shatter your hopes completely!"
Seeing the massive Yasaka Magatama plummeting toward him at blinding speed, Yuto gave a cold snort and thrust both hands upward.
With a soft thud, the Yasaka Magatama halted just above Yuto's head.
Not only did it fail to explode, but Yuto's two hands caught it barehanded!
Under everyone's horrified gaze, the massive Yasaka Magatama shrank at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"Attack!"
Tsunade roared the command.
Seizing the opening while Yuto absorbed the Yasaka Magatama, all three summoned beasts moved at once, the ground shaking as though an earthquake had struck.
Massive shadows swallowed Yuto from above!
"Bunta, don't use ninjutsu!"
Jiraiya was the first to act, shouting to Gamabunta.
"Got it!"
Gamabunta bellowed, his thick hind legs compressing like springs as he vaulted straight into the sky.
Riding the tremendous force of his descent, Gamabunta drew the massive tantō from his waist and brought it down like a mountain crushing upon Yuto.
Manda surged forward from the ground, then whipped his thick tail like a small hill, lashing it savagely toward Yuto.
Tsunade, standing atop Katsuyu's head, did not join Jiraiya and Orochimaru's assault.
Instead she fixed her gaze on Yuto, ready to react!
SWISH! SWISH!
A storm of cutting wind erupted around Yuto as hundreds of chakra chains burst from his body, sweeping outward in every direction like a tidal wave.
Gamabunta's sword strike was not only blocked by the swarm of chakra chains, but the surging chains also blasted Gamabunta right out of the sky!
Manda's massive tail strike was likewise stopped dead by the adamantine chains!
Yuto's eyes flashed coldly as he waved at the air.
A swarm of adamantine chains condensed into a giant hand that seized Manda's tail and slammed him into the ground.
Manda's enormous body was hoisted up, swung helplessly by the chain-formed hand!
He crashed into the earth with a deafening roar, accompanied by Manda's agonized shriek!
The sound echoed across the sky!
The ground itself shattered in that moment, stones hurtling through the air as countless cracks spidered across the battlefield.
"Tongue Tooth Sticky Acid!"
Tsunade launched her own attack at that moment.
Katsuyu opened its mouth and spewed a massive torrent of deep yellow, highly corrosive acid!
The instant the acid touched the air, thick white smoke billowed forth, as if even the air itself was being dissolved.
The torrent of acid flooded the sky above, engulfing Yuto!
Seeing this, Yuto's eyes flickered.
Katsuyu's acid was neither a physical attack nor a ninjutsu, but pure acid.
Even Yuto could not emerge unscathed from being drenched in such pure acid.
So Yuto had no choice but to abandon his position and bound backward!
But the instant Yuto moved, another colossal silhouette appeared behind him.
Uchiha Itachi, controlling his Complete Body Susanoo, plummeted from the sky and pounced straight at Yuto.
Yuto's expression did not change.
He raised his palm skyward, and the massive Yasaka Magatama he had just absorbed reformed swiftly in his hand!
An instant later, the Yasaka Magatama—now amplified in power—fired from Yuto's palm, slamming into the descending Susanoo!
Yasaka Magatama and Susanoo collided with a massive explosion, and Susanoo was blown apart!
But using the shockwave from that colossal blast, Uchiha Itachi's form streaked like lightning and appeared right in front of Yuto.
Uchiha Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan spun wildly as he reached out and grabbed at Yuto's arm!
If he could only touch that arm of Yuto's, the precondition for Izanami would be fulfilled!
At that moment, every face in Konoha lit up with fierce hope!
[
Dear Readers,
I hope you are doing well. I am writing to you today because things have become genuinely difficult, and I need to be honest about where I stand.
I am currently posting five to seven chapters every day across my active fictions, keeping up with bonus releases and extra chapters on top of that. The schedule is relentless, and I am putting in everything I have to make sure nobody is left waiting.
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